Best way to paint a wall near where it meets the ceiling?

[NFS4]

So, I'm prepping the baby's room for painting. I've already masked off the baseboard , window trim, taken off wall outlet plates and taped over power receptacles and various other odds and ends.

However, I'm painting the room Carolina Blue and the ceiling is an off white. I've tried running tape on the ceiling to where it meets the wall, but I just can't get the tape to adhere properly or get it straight enough.

Are there any other alternatives? We've used a metal straight edge in the past (downstairs living room) and it worked OK, but let a little bit of paint seepage get to the ceiling since the wall are not perfectly straight.

Could I just use a steady hand a small brush and just slowly rake the brush across the wall near the ceiling?

What have you guys found that works best?

 

[HAL9000]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9MAmWnOznI

 

[IronWing]

For trim work like this I prefer a good quality full sized brush. Dip the brush in the paint about a half inch, wipe off one side of the brush on the container, and paint with the painty side of the brush toward the wall (wiped off side toward ceiling). I usually paint out two-three inches from the ceiling so the roller spit doesn't hit the ceiling later. If you haven't painted before you can practice a bit on the interior of the wall before painting the edge.

 

[insect9]

A quality brush and a steady hand. Trim painting can be a bit challenging.

 

[LookBehindYou]

Get a decent brush and practice a few times. I used to tape everything I could, but recently I have started just doing it free hand. If you practice and can steady your hand it is much easier, looks better, and goes a lot faster. Don't use one of those edge thingies with the wheel either, its too easy to get paint on the wheel and then you're hosed.

 

[HydroSqueegee]

thats the worst part of painting, cutting in. sucks balls. just a steady hand and make sure you dont slab the pain on, because it will just run. steady hand and patience.

 

[WelshBloke]

For trim work like this I prefer a good quality full sized brush. Dip the brush in the paint about a half inch, wipe off one side of the brush on the container, and paint with the painty side of the brush toward the wall (wiped off side toward ceiling). I usually paint out two-three inches from the ceiling so the roller spit doesn't hit the ceiling later. If you haven't painted before you can practice a bit on the interior of the wall before painting the edge.

This.

Tape is just more trouble than its worth.

 

[NFS4]

Don't use one of those edge thingies with the wheel either, its too easy to get paint on the wheel and then you're hosed.

Yeah, tried one of those when painting around the door frame in the dining room. Lasted about 30 seconds until it started screwing up. Went immediately in the trash.

 

[MrChad]

I use one of these edgers. You can pick them up from Home Depot or Lowes. As long as you are careful to brush the paint on the pad and not oversaturate it, you'll get a clean line along the top of your wall. It takes some time, but is well worth it.

EDIT: Nevermind, saw that you already tried it. The edger works great for me but you need to be careful with the paint. If it gets on the wheel or plastic it won't work.

 

[CPA]

You can hold a durable metal putty knife between the brush and ceiling. As you pull the brush with one hand, follow along with the putty knife in the other. May take some more time, but will work if done right. The metal will wash clean too.

 

[thedarkwolf]

taping is a waste of time. Just have a good cut in brush, a steady hand, and wet sponge/rag to wipe off any screw ups. The paint comes right off with a wet sponge as long as you don't let it sit too long.

 

[vi edit]

taping is a waste of time. Just have a good cut in brush, a steady hand, and wet sponge/rag to wipe off any screw ups. The paint comes right off with a wet sponge as long as you don't let it sit too long.

That depends. If you have a primed or matte finish ceiling paint isn't going to wipe off.

 

[FirewolfX]

Tape + painters caulk = win. Razor sharp edges with no bleeding.

 

[dabuddha]

The edger still gets some paint on the ceiling. Here's what I use and it works like a champ
http://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch-multipurpose-trim-guard-96301.html

 

[leeland]

painting two corners sucks...I did it for my daughters room...with white ceiling and purple walls...

I used that edger tape deal which saved me a ton of time taping...

For the top I did like others have said...get the good brush...get a decent amount of paint on the brush...

Slow even strokes...and if you mess up and touch the ceiling have a small brush for touch ups later...

Just take your time and you will be GTG.

 

[leeland]

The edger still gets some paint on the ceiling. Here's what I use and it works like a champ
http://www.harborfreight.com/24-inch-multipurpose-trim-guard-96301.html

looks like a good idea...is the end a rubber material? I would presume you could clean it off and dry it between attempts?

 

[LookBehindYou]

Just be careful if you use one of those guards. You have to start on the ceiling and slide it to the corner of the ceiling/wall being careful not to touch the paint you just laid. I've used those too and they work for the first few feet then they end up with paint on the wrong side and then the ceiling.

Just free hand cut it in.

 

[NFS4]

Thanks guys, I'm just gonna freehand it. Gonna go to Lowes and get a good quality brush and some extra rollers for the rest of the wall.

 

[Saint Nick]

I think the best thing to do in this situation is just get rid of the baby. Then you don't even have to worry about painting anything.

 

[coloumb]

/agree on the Wedger as well - I'm just very careful to not let excess paint get onto the rollers.

What I find surprising - a lot of people don't seem to to a quality job at painting and accept what I would consider a crappy job [most people are probably not as critical either].

LOL at the "get rid of the baby" comment [been there done that..but didn't paint the room for the baby].

 

[paperfist]

Use an angled cut in brush, but get a real one from a paint store not that stuff they sell at Lowes and Home Depot where the hairs come off an get in the paint.

Slow and steady wins it, but you also don't want to load the brush up with paint. Dip it and wipe off the sides well. Don't start right at the spot where the ceiling meets the wall. Start a little (1") below and slowly drag the brush up and over at a 45 degree angle. Then just drag the brush down a little bit at a time. When it gets dry dip it again and over lap where you ended.

 

[dabuddha]

looks like a good idea...is the end a rubber material? I would presume you could clean it off and dry it between attempts?

It's metal. I'd wipe it clean after every time (takes a second with a rag) and never got any paint on the ceiling or on the carpet.

 

[sactoking]

Are you currently paiting the ceiling or do you have any of the ceiling paint left?

If so one option that works wonders is to tape the edge on the ceiling, then paint over the tape with the ceiling paint. When it's dry paint your wall.

The ceiling paint will seep under the tape and fill any voids with the correct color so when you come through with the wall color there won't be any bleed-through.

 

[alkemyst]

This.

Tape is just more trouble than its worth.

If the walls/trim is flat/smooth taping saves a ton of time and once you are good at laying a tape line really quick and easy.

My walls/ceiling are all textured so tape was worthless except in the window sills/frames.

I like a large brush to do the ceiling lines and always cut in from the wall. I paint ceilings always first. Some of the time I will trim out the 'wall' first depending on color/color change I am going enough so the rolling goes easier, then do the ceiling and retouch the wall edges, do the trim borders then roll everything else.

 

[Modelworks]

Use a regular brush to get to about 1/2" from the ceiling, then pick up some paint brushes like artist use for painting and fill in the last 1/2" . Really easy for anybody to do this way. The problem with using a big brush is it blocks your view, so using the small 1/2" sized brushes make it easy to not get paint where you don't want it. Works for trim and anything you need fine trim on without taping or messy shields.